Olympic Dreams

[Dooley67]

STS,

I just read chapter 11 which has it's usual wonderful narrative and dialogue that you do so well. You do such a good job of showing Jimmy with Paul and his introduction to weight training and of Jimmy cheering Greg on as the loudest in the pool. And we continue to see how Greg, swimming perhaps the most important race of his high school career, still remembers to blow a kiss to Monique and a high five to Jimmy. But the end of the chapter is such a shocker. Has Greg let his call from the coach at USC go to his head or since the summer swim team is over, is he done with Jimmy? In my heart of hearts, I don't believe either of those possibilities and I don't want to believe them; it would be too out of character for Greg. I guess we will have to wait for Chapter 12 to find out. Thanks for a great chapter but a troubling end.

D67

[shaulis]

STS,

I just finished reading part 11. Jimmy added weights to his workouts with Paul. Jimmy and Abby were getting closer in their relationship. I ,like Dooley67 ,was shocked by the ending. Greg acknowledged Jimmy sitting on the bleachers watching the summer team's final practice. Greg just walking past Jimmy's lane not saying a word to him sort of leaves a sour note to the story. I hope Greg and Jimmy have a proper goodbye in the next chapter.

Thank you for all the stories and the time you invest in them.

Shaulis

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Greg joined the rest of the team in the locker room after the final practice. The guys locker room was jubilant, as all the guys from the swim team carried on about what they would do with the time off until Fall swim started. Jared, one of the guys on the team held up his swimsuit and said “I am not putting this thing back on until October!” The rest of the guys laughed. A whole commotion raised about “speedo” swimsuits and girls. The guys teased each other about all sorts of sexual activity involving girls and speedos, typical of the raging hormones running through their young bodies. There was more horseplay than showering going on as the mix of naked and near naked swimmers teased each other and bantered. No topic was off limits, everything from girls to swimsuits to how amazing the season had been, to a whole lot of jovial name calling. It was all in jest as the guys let off steam and dealt with the emotions of the end of a great Summer.

JP, John and Craig all huddled with Greg. The four team medley swimmers had created a special bond, and now it was all over. They had even agreed to wear the same swimsuit’s the final day of practice, an awesome green print Cyberswirl by Speedo. The suit looked great on the guys, especially on PJ with his darker complexion. Being guys, they all did not want to show any emotion, but they could not help it. It had been a great season and they all really enjoyed each other, both as swimmers and as friends. You simply don’t spend six hours a day in the pool with each other and not get to become friends. When it was all said and done, the guys broke apart and each went about changing. Most of the out of town guys were leaving for home that afternoon, the locals would either see each other again on their school teams or at AAU meets. Some would swim against each other going forward. Swimming was that way. Friends one minute, fierce competitors the next. Those staying around agreed to meet for burgers at Burger Boy.

“Hey Greg, you ever gonna get changed?” JP finally asked. Greg was standing, still in his handsome green swimsuit.

“Yeah, in a minute, but first I got to do something,” Greg replied, he retied his strings.

“You are coming to the Boy, right?” JP asked.

“For sure,” Greg said. “See you there in an hours or so.”

“Alright, don’t stand us up,” JP replied, now naked and heading into the shower. He knew exactly what Greg was going to do.

-----

Jimmy was into the drills. He was doing his kickboard, watching the guys all leave the locker room, mostly in small groups or alone. He had not seen Greg come out. “Could I have missed him?” Jimmy thought. “Must have,’ he answered his own question. He hit the wall, turned and headed back the other way.

Greg grabbed a fresh water bottle, and one for Jimmy. He walked out of the locker room alone, all the other guys long gone. Coach was sitting in his usual spot, finishing his notes. He looked up and watched Greg as Greg walked over to the top of lane two and stood. Jimmy was at the far wall. Greg watched as Jimmy did his turn and began his kicking drill back. Jimmy’s kick was solid, and he was moving well through the water.

Jimmy was focused on the drill, and never looked up. Partly because he was really trying to focus on what he was doing, and partly because he had given up on Greg coming back. “He must have had to get on the road,” Jimmy rationalized. Greg remained silent, just watching. He reflected on the kid he began helping, now wearing a real swimmer’s swimsuit. A big transition from the awkward guy in the blue shorts. The swimmer coming at him was not the same one that started. This one was confident, strong, and had built some really good technique. Jimmy reached the flags and looked up.

“Greg!” Jimmy exclaimed. He stopped and stood. “I thought you had left.”

“Why would I do that?” Greg asked. “I mean and not come see you.” Greg added. For whatever reason, Jimmy jumped out of the pool and gave Greg a hug. It was the last time they would swim together, at least this Summer. Both guys cold feel the sadness.

“I wore this swimsuit special for today,” Jimmy told Greg. “It was the first one you gave me.” Jimmy was really proud of the swimsuit. Greg smiled.

“You look like an awesome swimmer,” Greg replied. “And you are turning girl’s heads, too.” Jimmy blushed.

“Hey, we got a workout to finish,” Greg said as he jumped in the pool. Jimmy quickly followed. For the next 45 minutes, Greg put Jimmy through a tough set of drills. He timed Jimmy’s 100 distance in every stroke, even the fly, making Jimmy start from the blocks. Greg dutifully recorded them on a grease board he had borrowed from the swim team supplies. “We’ll compare these to the swim team times, see how things look for your tryout,” Greg explained. “We can also see how far you have come.” As hard as Greg pushed, Jimmy never let up.

When it was all done, Jimmy was beat. He had not swam his full two hours, but when Greg suggested they quit early and grab lunch, Jimmy was more than willing. Both guys leapt from the pool.

“Got to look hot getting out,“ Greg teased. “It’s not how you swim, it is how hot you look getting out.“ Jimmy laughed. They headed to the locker room. “How does a burger and shake sound?” Greg asked. “My treat. We can go eat with the swim team,”

“That sounds great,” Jimmy replied. They entered the locker room and started to shower. Greg slipped out of his swimsuit and dried. He put on his Corona beer logo board shorts and a yellow top. Jimmy was still in his swimsuit.

“Hey, you want a pair of shorts to wear?” Greg asked Jimmy.

Jimmy thought for a minute and then nodded. He was perfectly willing to wear his swimsuit, but after the incident with Abby, Jimmy was more self conscious. Greg tossed Jimmy a pair of board shorts, a blue and white pair of OP shorts he had picked up at Wal-Mart.

“They will be a bit loose on you, but you can tie them up,” Greg explained. Jimmy slipped them on over his wet swimsuit and tied up the strings, the wet marks quickly showing where his swimsuit touched the boardies. The two guys left the locker room. Greg grabbed all the rest of his things from the locker, for the last time. Jimmy helped carry some of the gear. Just like older and younger brother, Jimmy and Greg headed away from the pool. They were ready for Burger Boy, and Jimmy was all excited to get to hang out with the team.

--------

On the trip over, Jimmy confided in Greg the events with Gabby. He explained exactly what happened, even the details of how he responded. “I didn’t know what to do,” Jimmy said. “I was all, you know, turned on, laying on my stomach. She kept rubbing my back, and I kept getting more turned on. Has that ever happened to you?” Jimmy asked.

Greg was very patient, listening as Jimmy shared his first experience. Luckily it only went as far as just being a little too excited. “You know, Jimmy, it happens to all of us. You did what I do, just rolled over and waited.” This led to a whole discussion about guys and girls. Jimmy felt better afterwards, he was not alone. Greg even assured Jimmy that Abby probably understood what happens to guys, and if she did not yet, she would. Greg even shared his own story to reassure Jimmy it was okay. “Yeah, swimsuits like ours show everything, but that is what is cool about them, too.” Greg added. Jimmy agreed.

----------

Lunch was amazing and the team really accepted Jimmy as their number one fan. They talked about swimming and swim team, girls, and of course, wearing swimsuits. The guys checked out all the cute girls at Burger Boy, picking out pair ups and ribbing each other endlessly about it. The conversation was as full of male bravado as one expected. Eight swimmers, all wearing conformist board shorts. All far better looking in their swim team suits, but still very cute. Jimmy was soaking it all in.

“Hey, Greg said you are going to try out for swim team,” JP recalled to Jimmy. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah, I am thinking about it,” Jimmy replied.

“Do it. It is lots of fun,” JP added. “Plus all the girls like swimmers, especially in our Speedos,” JP added. This got the whole table going. Jimmy laughed as the guys described who had the biggest bulge.

_____

The ride to Jimmy’s house was quiet. Greg pulled his shiny F150 into the drive. Nobody was home. “Want to come in?” Jimmy asked.

“No, I should be getting on the road.” Greg replied. “But first, I got you something.” Greg handed Jimmy a small box.

Jimmy slowly opened it. Inside was a cell phone. Jimmy looked at Greg.

“I hope you don’t mind. I traded mine in and added your phone to my line. I figured it would help us stay in touch. I want to know how you are doing. So, you need to send me video every day of how you are swimming.”

“Wow,” is all Jimmy could say.

“You know Jimmy, this may sound goofy, but you’re the best part of my Summer. Watching you become a swimmer. I mean USC is cool, and the swim meet was fun. But most of all, I really liked seeing you every day. I hope we stay friends forever.”

The guys hugged. Jimmy got really emotional. Greg assured him it would be alright.

“Will I ever see you again?” a teary Jimmy asked.

Greg assured Jimmy that they would. “I can come up and maybe you can come to my house on weekends, swim with my team.” It was a promise that would be kept.

Jimmy stood silent as the F150 backed out of the drive. He waved as Greg started down the road.

[sebbie]

In "Olympic Dreams" STS is "channeling" autobiographical material to a greater degree than in his other stories. I think "Jimmy" contains a lot of characteristics and features of how STS saw HIMSELF at that age. At that age STS saw himself as somewhat non-athletic looking and uncoordinated. But note now Jimmy has now discovered the gym and the weight lifting equipment. Jimmy's physique along with his self-image will continue to improve as the story progresses, at least to the extent that there are more episodes to follow.

I'm a big advocate for what proper gym equipment can do for a guy's physique, and once a guy gets in his mid-teens, everything starts to happen more quickly---I suspect that STS went through all of this himself, including the arousals and erections under the swimsuits. Exercised and rapidly growing muscles each become mini testosterone pumps, which is cool but makes controlling erections and arousal just that much more difficult for the teens who are woking out a lot.

I also expect that there was at least one older male swimmer in STS's life that he admired very much both with respect to physique and swimming ability.

I have often said I would have loved to be able to go through my teen years just one more time knowing what I know now about a whole bunch of stuff. I think a lot of guys, perhaps including STS, feel the same way.

Sebbie

[Byron]

Interesting analysis Sebbie - certainly agree your last para.

[shaulis]

STS,

I just finished reading Part 12. I liked that Greg came back out after he said his goodbyes to the team. Greg came to the pool in time to see Jimmy finish his drills. Greg saw a real transition from the awkward boy in blue shorts to the confident boy in a real swimsuit that was in the pool now. After Greg and Jimmy's swim workout Greg treats Jimmy to lunch with the swim team. Some of the local guys on the swim team asked Jimmy if he was going to tryout for the team when school starts. After lunch Greg takes Jimmy home and gives him a cellphone so they can keep in touch which they do talk regularly.

Brian

[Swimmboy]

I don't know if STS will continue the story - Greg now a college freshman and his experiences, while Jimmy joins his local HS team, and the things that change in his life. It would be great to hear more, but the story could also end here - both boys have established a life-long friendship and will stay friends for many years, even a lifetime.
It has been such a pleasure to read this, and to see the boys grow closer, sharing a bond of swimming and Speedo 'situations'. Thank you, STS, for sharing this with us!

[Dooley67]

STS,

Thank you for allowing Greg to redeem himself by working out with Jimmy and then taking him to lunch with the team. I just knew that Greg wouldn't just walk out on Jimmy. I'm not sure how you're going to tie this up and end it; I hope it will take many more chapters to finish... lol. Once again, great narrative, strong dialogue, good, decent and kind characters. And I liked the way you portrayed the emotions of the guys after their last practice of the summer. As always, I look forward to the next chapter.

D67

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Sebbie, Thanks for the thoughtful analysis. I am flattered that you took the time to think through how I might be reflecting myself in my character Jimmy. Actually, I was more like Greg than Jimmy as a kid. I started swimming at a very early age, was on a YMCA team at age 6 or 7, as I remember, which is when I also had my first swim team swimsuit, a blue with white stripe nylon suit. Lycra wasn't really around yet (not until I got into what was then called Junior high). By age 9 or 10, someone figured out I actually was really good at swimming. I was never destined for the Olympics, but I did end up with six colleges interested in me and swam scholarship for a D1 (NCAA's top level) program down in the Southeastern/ Mid Atlantic US. Too bad they dropped men's swimming back in the 1990's and nothing remains of the old program. They even tore down the old pool building (and the totally amazing pool) to make way for a classroom building.

Neither Greg nor Jimmy were patterned after me, but both are patterned after real people. By the way, my early stories in first person writing are closely patterned after my real life (the ones with Zach and Ryan as the main characters... I am the Ryan). I was a very athletic kid. My only challenge was my sexual orientation, but my friends in school and on my swim team and the folks in my hometown region of Northern Maine were very accepting and remain so today.

STS

[solarguy]

Thanks for the background STS! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your stories!!